A mild, melting day so that the Streets were in very poor walking condition. I went to the Office as usual. The town full of details respecting the fire in New York and the Insurance rooms crowded with Applicants for Insurance here, as the Policies in New York most of them turn out good for nothing. The losses have been very much exaggerated but they are nevertheless immensely heavy. I concluded to go down and anticipate the payment of my Note at the State Bank which falls due on the 29th and thus get rid of all the liabilities I am under. This together with the Accounts it gave rise to and an application to transfer some Boylston Market Stock took up all my time.

Called at the Advocate Office for the latest news from Pennsylvania. It seems the Antimasons from that Quarter are determined upon supporting General Harrison so that Mr. Webster’s last device proves but a fancy. His letter has caught nobody but himself. It is now altogether likely that we may be able next Autumn to change the majority in this State. So far, so good. Mr. Hallett read before several persons an answer made by him to a letter of Mr. Heister’s. I did not like the tone of his remarks though they are in substance just enough. I objected however to the general manner in which all members of Congress of the Antimasonic party are attacked. I think it worse than imprudent. I think it foolish because it causes most unnecessarily great opposition to our course. My remonstrance appeared to prevail though I saw it was not aggreeable and that it would not do for me to hazard such often. In truth I am perfectly aware of the fundamental differences of opinion which exist between Mr. Hallett and myself. And I hope I do nothing which commits me to any of his opinions or abandons any of mine. My course is one which will be safe to me only so long as I honestly maintain and express my opinions.

Home, but I lost my hour for Persius. Afternoon, tried to write a comment upon Mr. Slade’s late Address but I spoilt five or six sheets of Paper without satisfying myself.

Evening to the Play alone. Guy Mannering. A piece as I think by no means worthy of selection for a benefit night. I have accustomed myself so much to Italian Music as to lose relish for such pieces as “My love is like the red, red rose” or “I’ve been roaming” even when sung as they were tonight. The finale is however quite pretty. I remember the last time I saw this tough now nearly twenty years since in England. I liked it better as a boy than I do now. Afterpiece, the Waterman for the sake of three or four of Dibdin’s Sea songs.1 Black 289eye’d Susan, The bay of Biscay and one or two others. They repeated so much that I was very tired and it was midnight before I got home.

Morning pretty cool and promising a return of our sharp weather. It was a fine winters day however. I went to the Office as usual. The news from Harrisburgh is that General Harrison is the successful candidate for the two nominations made there and thus Mr. Webster is completely prostrated. Thus ends for the present a domination altogether too arbitrary to be submitted to with patience.

I passed my time in looking over and arranging Accounts and paying such bills as were most immediately within my reach. Nothing more. Short walk and home where I read Persius, but the game in this case is hardly worth the candle. I believe I shall get through him fast for the purpose of taking up some more agreeable classic. This hour is one which I enjoy quite as much as any part of my life.

Afternoon, taken up in an attempt to work up Mr. Slade’s Pamphlet. I began in what appeared to me to be in the right vein and made some progress which I felt satisfied with. It is curious but I think I must have commenced eight or ten different Sheets without success and so angry did I become at the waste of paper that I took the backs of the same half sheets and wrote one side down of each.

My Wife and I went down to pass the evening with Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham. We had a tolerably pleasant little talk and returned home at ten, after which I worked further but partly on Diary which my new mode of keeping at home has caused to fall into arrears.

Another cool and clear morning. I went to the Office and spent most of my time in writing a letter to my Mother in answer to a singular one received from her. She appears apprehensive of my father’s being drawn in with Mr. Van Buren and accordingly writes me in a tone of offended sensibility of certain grievances upon which she rests her great hostility to him.1 I have never inquired into the matter she refers to nor do I believe her information is very exact. I wish very 290heartily my poor brother had not been so apt to put arms in the hands of enemies by a kind of carriage which is too natural to our family.2 I say natural for I see it in my children already. I wrote a reply not disguising at all my opinions that some indiscretion on her part may ruin us all, even worse than we are now politically ruined.3 I expect nothing from Mr. Van Buren and his party beyond a support against the treachery of our pretended friends of the other side.

Late when I got home but read the remainder of the fifth Satire of Persius. Afternoon, continued the Letter to Mr. Slade. I have shortened and omitted from my first draft, but I am not sure that I cannot remodel what I leave for future use.

Evening read to my Wife from the Memoirs of the Duchess of Abrante’s until nine o’clock when we went off to a party at Mr. William Sturgis’s given by his daughter, to Mrs. Bryant, a bride and Wife to the son of her father’s partner in business. I had some scruples in going as I had a notion Mr. Sturgis was one of the pillars of the present Webster party, and might perhaps look coldly upon me. I experienced no such treatment however and subsequent inquiry led me to infer that I might have been misinformed. Be this as it may, I enjoyed myself quite well and returned home much more amused than I commonly am upon similar occasions.